Theme B-Religion and life

What do creationists/fundamentalists believe?

Beliefs are exactly as they are in the bible

What is a religious account of creation from Genesis 1?

• God creates the world from ‘ex nihilo’ (from nothing) 

• 7 days, (6 working days + Sabbath) ordered 

• God’s words have power (“Let there be light” - shows Gods omnipotence) 

• Man, and women have been made in God’s image 

• Gods omnibenevolent (gift from God → Gift → Stewardship) 

What is the big bang theory?

Universe comes into existence at a particular point in a ‘mysterious’ cosmological event → time and space begin 

What is evolution?

Species chance over time to adapt to environmental 

What is theistic evolution?

Processes like evolution are the means/tools God uses

What are some interpretations of creation?

• Literally as in scripture eg ‘7 days = 7 eras’ → Figurative, symbolic, liberal 

• Conservative → Scripture is word of God, but truth is mediated through human inspiration 

• Liberal → Human reflection on the way the world is 

• No God, therefore, scripture is not valid. 

What are some environmental issues?

• Animal exploitation 

• Fossil foils 

• Deforestation 

• Natural resources 

• Pollution 

• Waste landfill 

• Climate change 

• Plastics 

What are some solutions to environmental issues? What can Christians do?

• Use public transportation 

• Recycling 

• Fair trade/sustainable 

• Vegetarian 

• Food miles 

• Environmental protests 

• Charities – WWF, RSPCA, CAFOD 

• No animal tested products 

• Vote 

• Petition 

Why are Christians concerned about the environment?

• Belief that we are co-caretakers of the world with God 

• That the earth is given as a gift from God but given in trust and with responsibility 

• Belief in stewardship

What are some texts for caring for the environment?

Be masters of...” - Dominion 

“To you I give all the seed-bearing plants...” - Gift of God 

“And God saw all her had made and it was very good” - God saw it was good 

“The heavens (creation) show God’s glory” 

“To God belongs the earth and everything in it” 

“I look up at the heavens shaped by your hands” ... “Made mankind Lord of creation” 

What is a Jewish belief about the environment?

Jewish moral principle of healing (/repair) of the world.

What are two contrasting beliefs in contempory UK society about animal experimentation?

• We shouldn’t experiment on animals at all as they are created by God “God saw that they were Good” They are part of creation and should be valued (they might have souls) 

• It is acceptable to use animals for testing for the benefit of humans as humans are given dominion over creation by God 

What is the main Christian belief about animal testing?

That testing such as for cosmetics is cruel and unnecessary bringing suffering to God’s creation, going against the belief that animals deserve respect and creation. 

What is the Roman Catholic belief about animal testing?

Experiments are accepted ‘within reasonable limits’ and only if it is ‘caring for or saving human lives’.

What is the Jewish belief about animal testing?

Judaism recognises the duty to improve the welfare and well-being of humanity, this includes improving medical science. Where experiments are for this purpose, they would be acceptable as human life has more value. 

What is abortion?

Medical ending of a pregnancy before full term. In the UK it is allowed up until 24^th week of pregnancy. 

When was abortion made legal in the UK?

1967

What are the acceptable conditions for an abortion?

If:

• Two doctors sign to say it is reasonable  

• It takes place on registered premises 

• There is risk to the health, mental health or life of the mother 

• There is risk to the health of her existing children 

• There is risk of severe abnormality in the fetus 

What is the Roman Catholic belief about abortion?

Roman Catholics believe that life must be preserved. God knows us and forms us in the womb; there is a relationship with God before the baby is born

What are some arguments against abortion?

• Life is sacred/a gift from God and should be protected

• We are all made in God’s image

• ‘You shall not kill’. Everyone has a right to life

• We are God’s stewards and have the responsibility to protect life

What is the protestant belief about abortion?

Agree that abortion is undesirable but acceptable in certain situations. 

What are some arguments for abortion?

• Abortion is a legal process and should be a mother’s right

• Rape, incest. It is not fair to punish the mother and make the child grow up knowing it is the child of a rapist

• Risk to health of the mother

• Surely it is better to have a legal, safe abortion rather than a back-street abortion which may lead to infertility/infection

• We should respect the life of the mother. We should ‘love our neighbour’ and sometimes having an abortion might be the most loving and forgiving response

What is euthanasia:

Medical intervention to hasten the death of the terminally ill (dying) or chronically ill (severe and incurable) patient

What is the law in the UK about euthanasia?

It is illiegal

What is voluntary euthanasia?

Someone makes the choice or decision to end their life but needs help to do so.

What is involuntary/non-voluntary euthanasia?

The patient cannot make a decision or make their wishes known, other people (medics, family court) make the decision for them. (Eg those in a coma) 

What is active euthanasia?

Action is taken (something is done) to bring a life to an end eg a lethal dose of drugs is given

What is passive euthanasia?

The ending or removal of ‘reasonable treatment’ usually in hospital, even though death will result

What is the removing of futile or unreasonable treatment?

eg removing a life support system if it is judged to be the only thing keeping the patient alive with no prospect of proper recovery, is judged to be letting nature take its course and not euthanasia. 

What are practical responses?

Hospices help people die with dignity, providing care and support for patients, relatives and friends at most difficult stage of their lives.  

What is relative pain?

Whether caused by the illness or by the stress and fear it creates. Hospices specialise in pain control and lead way in palliative medicine (pain control from drugs). They say all pain, no matter how severe, can be brought under control. They enable patience, families and friends to face up to death by allowing them to talk in a free open way. Care for emotional needs for relatives, before during and after the patient's death. In most hospitals the needs of relatives are mostly ignored.

What are some anti-euthanasia arguments?

• Pain killing drugs and good palliative care can help a patient die with dignity 

• A dying patient may be unable to make a rational decision 

• The patient may change their mind when faced with death 

• Many recover after being ‘written off’ and cures could be developed 

• Euthanasia makes life disposable 

• If euthanasia was legalised the relationship of trust between doctors and patients would be destroyed 

• If there were better facilities for caring for dying, there would be no need for euthanasia 

What are some Christian anti-euthanasia arguments?

• Thou shall not kill 

• God made man in his own image 

• God gives and God takes away 

• Jesus healed the sick and dying 

• Humans have a responsibility to use God’s gifts to the full 

• Life is scared 

What are some pro-euthanasia arguments?

• Can quickly and humanely end a patient’s suffering, allowing them to die with dignity 

• Can help shorten the grief and suffering of loved ones 

• Everyone has a right to decide how they should die (self-rule) 

What are some Christian pro-euthanasia arguments?

• God is love. Christianity is love and compassion. Keeping someone in pain and suffering is not loving, it is evil. Euthanasia can be the most loving action, and the best way of putting agape love into practice.  

• Humans were given dominion over all living things by God (Genesis 1:28), i.e. we can choose for ourselves.  

• Jesus came so that people could have life “in all its fullness” John 10:10: this means quality of life. If someone has no quality of life, then euthanasia could be good.  

• God gave humans free will. We should be allowed to use free will to decide when our lives end.  

• “Do to others as you would have them do to you”. How would you want to be treated?  

What is the Roman Catholic’s view of euthanasia?

The intentional ending of a person's life, as a grave violation of God's law and a crime against life, therefore it is considered morally unacceptable

What are some theme B quotes?

“let them be masters of the fish of the sea”

“put me together in my mother’s womb”

“Before I formed you in the womb”

“ you may have life and have it to the full”